Know Your Rights: Bicycles and the Law

These days we've been getting a lot of complaints from our cycling members that police officers are pulling them over for not riding on a bike path where one is available. Legally, cyclists do not have to use an off road bike path even if one is available--including roads like Date St. and Paki Ave.

Bikes and the law are a bit of a gray area. Officers, motorists, and even cyclists themselves don't know what the law actually says when it comes to bicycles. But, it's important to know your rights. While we don't encourage arguing with a police officer if you are pulled over, knowing the laws will go a long way in keeping you both safe and able to argue your case if you are ticketed.

We've compiled a list of the laws for the City and County of Honolulu, handily accessible at http://hbl.org/bikelaws. When in doubt, bookmark and refer to this page. And always remember that cyclists are drivers of vehicles, and follow the same laws as their motorist counterparts unless the law states otherwise!